cooling Acura RSX 2003 Owner's Manual

Your Car at a Glance
2
DOOR AND
HATCH LOCK SWITCH
POWER WINDOW
SWITCHESINDICATOR LIGHTS
GAUGES
(P.
59)
(P. 66) HEATING/COOLING
CONTROLS
AUDIO SYSTEM
SHIFT LEVER
PARKING BRAKE (P.
102 )
MIRROR CONTROLS
(P.
94)
(P. 79)
(P. 91)
FUEL FILL
DOOR RELEASE
(P. 156)
(P.157)
HOOD RELEASE HANDLE
(P.95) (P.
125)
(P. 172, 175)

Push the button.
Select the mode.
Turn the f an on high speed.
Set the temperature control to a
comfortable setting.
High levels of carbon monoxide can
collect rapidly in enclosed areas,
such as a garage. Do not run the
engine with the garage door closed.
Even with the door open, run the
engine only long enough to move the
vehicle out of the garage.
Your car’s exhaust contains carbon
monoxide gas. You should have no
problem with carbon monoxide
entering the car in normal driving if
you maintain your car properly.
Have the exhaust system inspected
f or leaks whenever:
The car is raised f or an oil change.
You notice a change in the sound
of the exhaust.
Thecarwasinanaccidentthat
may have damaged the underside. If you must sit in your parked car,
even in an unconf ined area, with the
engine running, adjust the heating
and cooling system as f ollows: With the hatch open, air flow can
pull exhaust gas into your car’s
interior and create a hazardous
condition. If you must drive with the
hatch open, open all the windows
and set the heating and cooling
system as shown below.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Carbon Monoxide Hazard
Driver and Passenger Saf ety54
Carbon monoxide gas is toxic.
Breathing it can cause
unconsciousness and even kill
you.
Avoid any enclosed areas or
activities that expose you to
carbon monoxide.

Control L ocations
Inst rument s and Cont rols58
POWER WINDOW
SWITCHES
FUEL FILL
DOOR RELEASEMIRROR CONTROLS
INDICATOR LIGHTS
GAUGES HEATING/COOLING
CONTROLS
AUDIO SYSTEMSHIFT LEVER
PARKING BRAKE
HOOD RELEASE HANDLE
DOOR AND
HATCH LOCK SWITCH
(P.
80)
(P. 91) (P.
94) (P.
66) (P.
59)
(P.102)
(P. 125)
(P. 172, 175)
(P. 95)
(P. 157)
(P.
151)

This shows the temperature of the
engine’s coolant. During normal
operation, the pointer should rise
from the bottom white mark to about
the middle of the gauge. In severe
driving conditions, such as very hot
weather or a long period of uphill
driving, the pointer may rise to near
the upper white mark. If it reaches
the red (Hot) mark, pull safely to the
side of the road. Turn to page f or
instructions and precautions on
checking the engine’s cooling
system.
This shows how much f uel you have.
It is most accurate when the car is on
level ground. It may show slightly
more or less than the actual amount
whenyouaredrivingoncurvyor
hilly roads.
The needle returns to the bottom
after you turn off the ignition. The
gauge shows the f uel level reading
immediately af ter you turn the
ignition switch back ON (II).
This meter shows the number of
miles (U.S.) or kilometers (Canada)
driven since you last reset it.
To reset a trip meter, display it, and
then press and hold the Select/Reset
button until the number resets to
‘‘0.0’’. There are two trip meters: Trip A
and Trip B. Switch between these
displays and the odometer by
pressing the Select/Reset button
repeatedly. Each trip meter works
independently, so you can keep track
of two dif f erent distances.
212
Gauges
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Temperature Gauge
Fuel Gauge
Trip Meter
67
Avoid driving with an extremely low
f uel level. Running out of f uel could
cause the engine to misf ire, damaging
the catalytic converter.

.....................
Heating and Cooling .102
...............
Temperature Sensors . 108
Audio System (All models ......................
except Type-S) .109
....
AM/FM/CD Audio System . 109
.................
Operating the Radio . 109
.................
Adjusting the Sound . 113
..............................
Digital Clock .114
............
Audio System Lighting . 115
.........
Operating the CD Player . 115
.....
Operating the CD Changer . 117
....
CD Player Error Indications . 119
CD Changer Error .............................
Indications .120
Operating the Cassette .....................................
Player .121
............
Tape Search Functions . 123
.................
Caring f or Cassettes . 124
................
Audio System (Type S) . 125
AM/FM/Cassette/ .
CD Changer Audio System . 125
.................
Operating the Radio . 126
.................
Adjusting the Sound . 129
..............................
Digital Clock .130
............
Audio System Lighting . 131
....................
Radio Frequencies . 131........................
Radio Reception .131
Operating the Cassette .....................................
Player .133
............
Tape Search Functions . 134
Caring f or the Cassette .....................................
Player .137
Loading CDs in the .................................
Changer .139
...................................
Operation .141
Removing CDs from the .................................
Changer .143
.......
Protecting Compact Discs . 145
CD Changer Error .............................
Indications .146
.......................
Thef t Protection .147
............................
Security System .148
...............................
Cruise Control .149
Comf ort and Convenience Features
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures101

The engine must be running f or the
heater and air conditioning to
generate hot and cold air. The heater
uses engine coolant to warm the air.
If the engine is cold, it will be several
minutes bef ore you f eel warm air
coming from the system.
The heating and cooling system
draws air through the exterior vents
at the bottom of the windshield.
Keep these vents clear of leaves and
other debris.
The direction of air f low f rom the
vents in the center and each side of
the dashboard is adjustable.
Open each vent by pushing on the
recess. Adjust the direction of air
flow by rotating the vent. The heating and cooling system in
your Acura has f ull heating,
ventilation, and air conditioning
capabilities. In combination with the
air conditioning, the system
maintains the interior temperature
you select. The system also adjusts
the fan speed and air flow direction
automatically depending on the set
temperature.
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
Heating and Cooling
102
SIDE VENTS
CENTER VENTS

Your car has a f low-through venti-
lation system. Air enters the car
through vents in f ront of the wind-
screen. It circulates through the
interior then exits through vents
near the tailgate. This system pro-
vides fresh air even when the car is
standing still. To bring in outside air,
select the Fresh Air mode. Set the
f an at a comf ortable speed.
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
Vent ilat ion
Heating and Cooling
103

To use the heating and cooling
system in automatic mode, set the
system as f ollows.Set the f an control dial to AUTO.
Set the mode control dial to AUTO.
Turn the temperature control dial
to the desired temperature.
Select Fresh Air mode by pressing
the Recirculation button. The
indicator in the switch should be
off.
Turn on the A/C by pressing the
button. TurningthefancontroldialtoOFF
shuts the heating and cooling system
completely off. Keep the system
completely of f only f or short periods.
To keep stale air and mustiness from
collecting, you should have the f an
running at all times.
To heat or cool the interior f aster,
select Recirculation mode and set
the temperature control dial to the
upper or lower limit. The system runs of f ull cooling or
heating only. It does not regulate the
interior temperature. When the
temperature is set between the lower
and upper limits, the system
regulates the interior temperature to
the set value.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Heating and Cooling
Automatic Operation
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures104
FAN CONTROL DIAL
TEMPERATURE CONTROL DIAL
RECIRCULATION BUTTON AIR CONDITIONING BUTTON MODE CONTROL DIAL

CONT INUED
When you turn the A/C of f , the
system cannot regulate the inside
temperature if you set the dial below
the outside air temperature.
With A/C on, use the temperature
control dial to adjust the temperature
of the air f low to a comf ortable
setting.Air conditioning also removes mois-
ture from the air as it operates. You
can use it to def og the windows
quickly in cool or damp weather.
Used in combination with the heater,
it also makes the interior warm and
dry.Air conditioning places an extra load
on the engine. Watch the engine
coolant temperature gauge (see page
) when using the A/C in heavy
traf f ic or driving up long hills. If it
moves near the red zone, turn of f the
air conditioning until the gauge
reads normally.
You can manually set the system
controls f or ventilation, air condi-
tioning, heating, air f low direction,
and fan speed in various combination.
Pressing the A/C button turns the
air conditioning ON and OFF. The
indicator in the button lights when
the A/C is ON.
67
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
Manual Operation
Heating and Cooling
A ir Condit ioning But t on
105
AIR CONDITIONING BUTTON

This button controls the source of air
going into the system. When the
indicator in this button is lit, the
system is recirculating the interior
air (Recirculation mode). When the
indicator is of f , f resh air is brought
in f rom outside the vehicle (Fresh
Air mode). Push the button to
change between recirculated and
f resh air.
Use Recirculation mode to heat or
cool the interior more quickly, or to
keep out smoke and dust. Leaving
the system in the Recirculation mode
with the A/C off can cause the
windows to f og up. Switch to Fresh
Air mode as soon as the interior
reaches a comf ortable temperature
or the outside smoky, dusty condi-
tion clears.You can manually select the f an
speed by turning the f an speed
control dial. Turning this dial
clockwise increases the f an speed,
which increases air flow.
Some air will come out of the side
vents in all modes. Use this dial to select the direction of
air f low coming out of the system.
When the dial is set to AUTO, the
system controls the f an speed
automatically.
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
Heating and Cooling
Recirculat ion But t on
Fan SpeedMode Cont rol Dial
106
FAN CONTROL DIAL MODE CONTROL DIAL
RECIRCULATION BUTTON